ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is really coming together at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus! Its arrival is greeted with an overall sense of excitement, but all the construction in such close proximity to downtown ASU students also has some health and wellness implications that need to be addressed.
Downtown is definitely a more logical place for the law school because of easier access to legal resources and courts. However, are the proper precautions being taken given that heavy duty construction is occurring a few hundred feet away from masses of downtown students traversing across campus?
While the construction site is fenced off with a traditional barbed wire fencing, is this enough to ensure that the health of the downtown students and residents isn’t compromised?
When in close proximity to construction sites, two health risks are at play: 1) more literal, physical harm- the risk of you injuring yourself externally (i.e., you falling, things falling on you) and 2) internal harm (i.e., you inhaling particle matter that is detrimental to your health).
It’s highly unlikely that a crane or other object will physically harm any student or downtown resident who’s walking by the construction. However, internal harm is definitely a risk that needs to be evaluated.
Generally speaking, risks at construction sites are categorized into the following areas:
Gases/ Vapors — like carbon monoxide, methane, etc.
Fumes/ Fibers — like asbestos, silica, etc.
Noise — noise pollution created by high decibel levels
Radiation — ionizing and non-ionizing
More can be read at:
https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-19495-09/health_hazards_workbook.pdf
These risks are generally monitored pretty closely at construction sites, so there’s no need to worry excessively. Just being aware of these risks is essential, though.
Tannah Broman, ASU program coordinator and senior lecturer in Kinesiology, brought up some excellent points about how asthmatic athletes might want to steer clear of the construction area if they are running around downtown.
“One of the things we worry about here is Valley Fever, because it’s a fungus that grows in the ground. Also the particulates in the air could definitely cause health problems for certain people. If you run downtown and know you’re sensitive to particulates in the air it might be a better option to change up your running routine,” Broman said.
Aside from the health concerns, the construction also has been disturbing to a few students-but they’re staying positive.
Rachel McKay, a student at the downtown campus, said the construction definitely did bother her at first, but she’s gotten used to it over time.
“Last semester I would wake up at 6 a.m. every single day because that’s when they would start, but now I typically sleep through it. Saturday mornings are when I get the most frustrated by the construction, because they do start early and I don’t start work until 10:30 at the earliest,” McKay said.
The construction of the law school may be an inconvenience for the downtown residents at Taylor Place for the time being, but soon they’ll be able to reap the benefits of a great law school right outside their doorstep.
Additionally, while your health probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you see a construction site, it’s important to be mindful of the risks discussed in this article … especially if you live, work or study in close proximity to a construction site on a daily basis!
Stay healthy, my friends!
Contact the columnist at wshahid@asu.edu
